Weaving

[Rayles]

Hi All,

Anyone got any fabulous suggestions on how to teach my dog to weave?

Was teaching him last year before I got pregnant, but have only just re-started and weaving is driving me up the wall!

I used to use food and he would follow my hand as I directed him through the poles...though I decided to stop that as he was starting to nip at my food and he also wouldn't watch where he was going - only my hand, and would walk straight through/over the poles instead of around them.

We have also tried the slow process of having 2 rows of poles and gradually moving them in closer together, but as I move them in he still skips some and he can't seem to get the idea of the weaving 'movement', rather he just does half-circles around them...am stuck for ideas???

Thanks,

Rayles

[J...]

Highly recommend Susan Garretts 2 x 2 method - I used it for my agility dog and will certainly use it again.

[Kavik]

There are several ways to teach weaving. The main thing is it takes time and you have to be patient! I was too impatient when teaching Zoe, and her weaving was poor, so I have decided to take it slower with Kaos and get a good foundation before making it more difficult.

Here are some methods:

Channel weaves

This is what I am teaching at the moment. Looks like you have done a little of this (two rows of poles that are far apart to start and you bring them together gradually). What I am doing is not concentrating on the weaving motion for the moment - that will come. I am working on getting the dog to find the channel on his own from different positions and go through the channel as fast as he can. This is to teach an independent weave where I don't have to be next to him for each weave motion.

I started with the poles really far apart, and doing restrained recalls through the center with my OH holding him and me on the other end with food or toy. Then when he had the idea, I moved to me next to him with a toy and when he ran through the channel I threw the toy. Then I varied the angle of approaching the poles on both left and right side. If he misses the entrance no reward and we try again, multiple misses and I make it easier.

Now I am finally narrowing the poles, though we are not yet to where he has to weave, but the channel is narrower and he has to work harder to find the entrance.

V-Weaves

This is where you have the poles on an angle/slant (like a V) when you start and slowly move them more upright so the dog slowly has to learn the weaving motion.

2 poles and clicker training

This is teaching the dog to go between two poles, and then extend to more poles

Hopefully people that use other methods will tell you how they train them

[WalandLibby]

At a seminar I went to last yr the point was made that each different method is most useful for teaching some different aspect of weaving. So using several different methods is a good idea.

V weaves are good for developing single stepping.

Edited July 8, 2008 by WalandLibby

[Rayles]

Thanks for the tips.

But, what is the Susan Garrett's method?

Also, how does the dog get around the poles if they are on a lean (V-shape)? Wouldn't he be going almost under them?

[J...]

http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?show...&hl=weaving

There's a good summary of the 2x2 method in that thread

The only thing I didn't do was reward for a "wrong" entry in the beginning, I only rewarded for a correct entry right from the start. Meant it took a little longer, but I could see the wrong entry thing coming back to bite me far too easily

[WalandLibby]

what is the Susan Garrett's method?

I found this...

Good vid of the first step. Couldn't find more good ones of the later stages. It's described in Shaping Success if you can get hold of that.

Also, how does the dog get around the poles if they are on a lean (V-shape)? Wouldn't he be going almost under them?

The dog moves down the middle of the V (between the uprights) - it will bend it's body less than if the poles are more upright. The goal is for the dog to take just one step with the outside foot beside each pole (this is something that will take time for it to be able to do at speed).

This dog has been working on it for a few weeks apparently - the poles are more upright than you'd want to start with (it's good to be able to get in there and - walking backwards - lead your dog through the poles with a treat first up)

I think it might be better if the poles were more secure and moved less - otherwise the dog might learn to knock them with a shoulder in training and injure itself when moved to firmer poles later.

I tend to worry a bit about dogs going faster than they've developed the coordination to handle. Personally I think that is happening with this dog, but I still think it's lovely work.

Edited July 8, 2008 by WalandLibby

[Kavik]

With the V Weaves you can start with the poles nearly on the ground I think (depending on the set?)

[kelpiechick]

If you want to use the channel method, PM me with an email address and I will send you the handout with instructions that I give to my beginning students

[JulesP]

Am doing the weaves module now at dog school. Brock seems to really hate it! Head and ears down, tail down. drops to the ground.

He is ok when there is a channel but when the weaves come into a straight line he is really not happy. Have opened the weaves back up and am working on it being super fun.

He is super sensitive and hates thinking he has done the wrong thing. Even a passive no reward upsets him.

Any ideas?

Also he is ok with 'his' weaves but any new weaving poles and I have to start from the beginning!

Have only been training weaves for 4 weeks btw.

[Kavik]

4 weeks is not long (how long is each session?). I have been doing this with Kaos (albeit not regularly) for a year. Zoe was not keen on weaving, so with Kaos I wanted to make it fun and try to get one of those super fast weavers! He loves it and is very fast and keen so far. It helps that he loves a squeaky toy so I can throw it as a reward.

Here is a link to our beginning weaving work (about a year ago). He has progressed heaps since then, have to get OH to video our progress. Now I no longer use a food target and start beside him, use a toy and have narrowed the channel. And he is heaps faster.

Here is Zoe for comparison, channel still open as she is very slow when closed so I backed up a few to get her speed up:

Edited July 9, 2008 by Kavik

[JulesP]

Maybe 5 mins a session, plus 30 mins at school. Brock is heaps slower than Zoe. But he is slow full stop. Very accurate though!

[Kavik]

I think you are expecting too much for just 4 weeks working on it, I would open the channel and work on speed and enthusiasm. I wish I knew about it when I started training Zoe!

Edit: I am the QUEEN of moving too fast and expecting too much! Including weaving and retrieving, I am reteaching Diesel's retrieve at the moment . . .

Remember that unlike other agility equipment, weaving poles just look like a line of poles!

Edited July 9, 2008 by Kavik

[JulesP]

Yeah, we only had 4 weeks of the weaving course though. We all failed. Croydon teaches each piece of equipment, one at a time, for 3 weeks with the test on the 4th week. Not sure I like the format but nearly finished now, just weaving to go.

[Kavik]

There is no way 4 weeks is long enough to teach a dog to weave properly Or do reliable contacts for the contact equipment for that matter, or do the see-saw well.

[Sayreovi]

I have used the 'push pull' method and V weaving, by far the latter has produced the best results.

The dog has a clearer understanding of what is required, is a reliatively fast as well as a reliable weaver with good entries.